buckle

1 of 3

noun (1)

buck·​le ˈbə-kəl 

1

: a fastening for two loose ends that is attached to one and holds the other by a catch

2

: an ornamental device that suggests a buckle

3

archaic : a crisp curl

buckle

2 of 3

verb

buckled; buckling ˈbə-k(ə-)liŋ 

transitive verb

1

: to fasten with a buckle

2

: to prepare with vigor

3

: to cause to bend, give way, or crumple

intransitive verb

1

: to become fastened with a buckle

2

: to apply oneself with vigor

—usually used with down

buckle down to the job

3

: to bend or move usually under the influence of some external agency

wheat buckling in the wind

4

: collapse

the props buckled under the strain

5

: to give way : yield

he buckled under pressure

buckle

3 of 3

noun (2)

1

: a product of buckling : bend, fold

2

: a coffee cake baked with berries and a crumbly topping

blueberry buckle

Did you know?

Word History of Buckle

The literal meaning of Latin word buccula was “little cheek,” but buccula was also the name for the part of a helmet that protects the cheek. Its medieval French descendant, bouclé, was the word for the boss of a shield, which looks a little like a small cheek on the face of the shield. The use of the word was later extended to belt fasteners. In this sense, the word was borrowed into English.

Synonyms

Verb

• collapse
• go

Examples of buckle in a Sentence

Verb

She buckled the horses into their harness.

The pavement buckled in the heat.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

These clogs feature an adjustable buckle and a contoured footbed to provide all-day comfort. —Caroline Hughes, Travel + Leisure, 30 Oct. 2025

Those are just two upscale, adult-skewing movies in a crowded September and October that have seen the subgenre buckle. —Anthony D'alessandro, Deadline, 28 Oct. 2025

Verb

The precious metal is now buckling a bit. —Fred Imbert, CNBC, 22 Oct. 2025

If ice shelves like Larsen B collapse quickly and expose tall-enough cliffs on the glaciers behind them, those cliffs will indeed buckle under their own weight. —Evan Howell, Quanta Magazine, 20 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Noun (1)

Middle English bocle, from Anglo-French, boss of a shield, buckle, from Latin buccula, diminutive of bucca cheek

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun (2)

1876, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing buckle

• buckle down
• buckle up

Rhymes for buckle

• chicle
• chuckle
• knuckle
• muckle
• suckle
• tical
• honeysuckle

Kids Definition

buckle

1 of 3 noun

buck·​le ˈbək-əl 

: a fastening device which is attached to one end of a belt or strap and through which the other end is passed and held

buckle

2 of 3 verb

buckled; buckling -(ə-)liŋ 

1

a

: to fasten with a buckle

buckle your seat belt

b

: to fasten a buckle

buckle up for safety

2

: to apply oneself

buckle down to the job

3

: to give way : bend, crumple

the pavement buckled in the heat

knees buckled

buckle

3 of 3 noun

: a product of buckling